Repentance

A really helpful post i came across on facebook
Copied from- THe Ideal Muslimah otes page on facebook...this post is credited to the original source which is posted here
i have not edited or changed any part of it
but MashaAllah its amazing...How Forgiving is Allah(SWT) even when we are sinners...verily Only He has the power to guide us...May Allah forgive our sins...both which are known by us and unkown and which are seen and unseen and which we commit knowingly and unknowingly
Verily Allah is the Ghafoor-ur Raheem...May HE guide us!
All Praise is Allah who is still so forgiving Even though we are sinners!


Repentance: “O son of Adam!”




source: www.AbdurRahman.org









Anas (radhiallahu anhu) said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) say: “Allah the Exalted said: “O son of Adam! As long as you invoke Me and plead to Me, I will forgive you whatever you have committed, and I will not make much of it. O son of Adam! If your evil deeds reach the borders of the sky, and then you ask Me for forgiveness, I will forgive you. O son of Adam! If you bring forth the earth full of errors, then you meet Me while you do not associate anything (or anyone) with Me, I will bring forth for you its full of forgiveness.” [At-Tirmidhee (Shaikh Albanee rendered it as Hasan)]



The Status of the Hadeeth

This Hadeeth demonstrates the necessity and the high status of at-Tawheed (worshiping Allah). It also demonstrates the great rewards for those who believe. This Hadeeth encourages seeking Allah's forgiveness and returning to Allah, the Exalted and Ever High, in repentance.



Allah, the Exalted said: “O son of Adam!”



Adam is the father of mankind. He was an honorable Prophet whom Allah chose, as He says: “Allah chose Adam, Nuh, the family of Ibrahim and the family of Imran above the Alamin (mankind and Jinn) (of their times). Offspring, one of the other, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.” [Soorah Imraan (3): 33]



Allah has created Adam with His Own Hands and then blew life into him. Allah then commanded the angels to bow down and prostrate before Adam (alaihi as-salaam), and they all adhered to this command, as was confirmed in the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. Allah taught Adam (alaihi as-salaam) the names of everything: “And He taught Adam all the names (of everything), then He showed them to the angels and said: “Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful.” [Soorah Baqarah (2): 31]



In addition, Allah mentioned Adam's story and his encounter with Shaitaan, and how Shaitaan whispered to Adam and lured him to disobey Allah. Shaitaan first came to Adam (alaihi as-salaam) using cunning and fake sincerity, saying to Adam and Eve, as mentioned in the Qur'aan: “Then Shaitaan whispered suggestions to them both in order to uncover that which was hidden from them of their private parts; he said: “Your Lord did not forbid you this tree save you should become angels or become of the immortals.” And he (Shaitaan) swore by Allah to them both.” [Soorah al-A'raf (7): 20-21]



Thus, Shaitaan swore that he was sincere and truthful. Allah stated in another verse: “Then Shaitaan whispered to him saying: “O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away?” [Soorah Ta-Ha (20): 120]



Such are the tools that Shaitaan uses to mislead mankind and to guide them away from Allah's Path. Shaitaan depends on people's weaknesses until he directs them to fall into the disobedience of Allah. When they fall in disobedience, Shaitaan says, as Allah stated: “And Shaitaan will say when the matter has been decided, “Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, so you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Shaitaan) as a partner with Allah (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Thalimun (polytheist and wrong-doers, etc).” [Soorah Ibraheem (14): 22]



This is what Shaitaan will do on the Day of Resurrection. Therefore, the slave should be aware of Shaitaan's deceiving ways. Allah mentioned the story of Adam and Shaitaan, which teaches that when a slave commits a sin, he should go back to Allah in repentance, for He has a wide forgiveness, as the above mentioned Hadeeth demonstrates.



Adam and Eve went back to Allah in repentance, and Allah forgave them: “They said: “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.” [(7): 23]



“Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness, and gave him guidance.” [(20): 122]



Thus, this Hadeeth reminds mankind that they are Adam's offspring; it also reminds them of Adam's mistake and his going back to Allah in repentance, and Allah forgiving him. Furthermore, this hadeeth encourages mankind to seek Allah's forgiveness for their mistakes and errors.